5 myths about Stevens Decoys
Myth #1 Stevens Decoys were “factory” decoys. Books written by Joel Barber and William Mackey promoted the concept that Stevens made a...
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Barber bluebills and the Earnest denial.
In 2005, at the Midwest Decoy Show, a rig pair of bluebill decoys sat nearly unnoticed. The dealer attributed the pair to Joel Barber...
Six predictions on the great migration ahead.
I generally resist change, especially when change is thought to be the only form of progress. We see plenty of that these days. Some...
10 reasons why decoy collecting will soar into the 21st century.
I enjoy a good decalogue, so here's my 10-point case why decoys will soar above all Americana arts in the future. 1. Most art historians...
Stevens Decoys website discounts
I'm offering your choice of 3 discounts to the first 50 collectors: 1. The Essential Guide to Stevens Decoys book (regularly $39.95) for...
From Heads to Tails
Guest essay by collector Mark Malys. Being a passionate decoy collector, I am constantly admiring, appreciating, and critiquing my...
Stevens Decoy Database Subscription
About 2 years ago, I digitized all my records and photos of Stevens Decoys into a database. Some days I pushed myself 16 hours non-stop;...
The Great Generational Succession
The fathers of collecting Stevens Decoys are Frank Ash and Hal Evans. They gave us “The Stevens Story”, published in the 1966-67 Decoy...
The van Gogh of Decoy Makers
I've said before that I think Harvey A. Stevens is the Vincent van Gogh of decoy makers. Yes, I wish upon a Starry Night that Harvey's...
Would Joel Barber be proud of us?
I begin with my regards and compliments to Zac Cote of Guyette & Deeter for his description of the "Stevens Brothers" decoys being...
The Black Swans of Stevens
In his book, The Black Swan, Nassim Nicholas Taleb reveals how rare, and inevitable, events are often ignored and, when understood, may...
Everyone should own a Stevens Decoy
It seems only fair that every man, woman, and child ought to own a Stevens Decoy. If not for liberal entitlement, then, at least, to...
What's my Stevens worth?
Every so often I'm asked to value a Stevens Decoy. Determining how much a buyer is willing to pay and a Seller willing to accept should...
Those are mallards, by George...
One of the more interesting and useful areas of Stevens study is comparing decoys made by Harvey to those made by George. George wasn’t...
Getting downright Darwinian
Anas platyrhynchos lignum (Mallard duck in wood) Let's explore the evolution of a Stevens Decoy in the manner of Charles Darwin. In order...
Who Made that Sleeper?
Guest essay by Travis Bryant There has always been a layer of uncertainty when determining who made any specific Stevens Sleeper Decoy. ...
Building a Private Collection.
I can no better understand why someone would collect baseball cards or toy tractors as they can understand my reason for collecting duck...
Ebay Redhead Evaluation
Guest essay by Travis Bryant Currently a Harvey Stevens Redhead Decoy is being offered on Ebay. See Listing. The auction will end on...
Murder on the Postal Express
In October 2012, I agreed to loan a very rare Stevens Mallard hen decoy to the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art for an exhibition. I had...
Firewood
Guest essay by Travis Bryant What is an antique decoy to you? Is it art; a piece of history that tells a story; a woodcarving...
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